phonthong

navigate by keyword : 11th 13th 7th angkor asia back base bce brick building buildings built carving cells centred centuries century champasak complex consequent crocodile dating district early erected hindu khao khmer kilometres lao laos megalithic mekong mighty mount offering oldest one onsite period phonthong phou phu place places platforms pre historic province ruined sacred sanctuary serpent serpents site southeast southern spring sprit stairs stone structures surviving temple mountain tutelary vat wat worship

Elephant at Vat Phou, Laos Royalty Free Stock Photo

Crocodile at Vat Phou, Laos Royalty Free Stock Photo

Vat Phou (or Vat Phu Lao: temple-mountain) is a ruined Khmer Hindu temple complex in southern Laos and one of the oldest places of worship in Southeast Asia. It is at the base of mount Phou Khao, some 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the Mekong in Champasak province.There was a sanctuary on the site, centred on a sacred spring and an offering place for a mighty tutelary sprit dating back to pre-historic times. The first megalithic stone structures had been built probably as early as the second century BCE, consisting of two stone cells, a carving of a crocodile, serpent stairs, and several offering platforms One of the first pre-Angkor brick buildings onsite was erected in the early 7th century and became the focus of all consequent building activities .Most of the other surviving buildings date from the Angkor period, in the 11thâ13th centuries.